Not in the cards: Effort to solve old murders by featuring them on playing decks hasn't paid off

Jul. 23, 2013

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Written by

Ben Jones

Gannett Wisconsin Media Investigative Team

About ‘Cold Cases’

Gannett Wisconsin Media is publishing an exclusive four-week series called Cold Cases: Tracking Wisconsin’s Unsolved Murders. Cold Cases is the most comprehensive unsolved-murders project of regional and statewide interest ever assembled in a print and digital format. The Gannett Wisconsin Media Investigative Team spearheaded the project in conjunction with local reporters at all 10 Gannett Wisconsin Media news organizations, including Post-Crescent Media. The Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism in Madison also partnered with the newspapers. The intent of Cold Cases is to generate new, valuable leads and tips for Wisconsin homicide investigators. Many of them have hit roadblocks or face dead ends.

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MADISON — Brittany Zimmermann is the seven of hearts. Beulah Ann Ware, the three of hearts. James Southworth, the king of spades.

The three — all murder victims — represent more than 100 unsolved homicide and missing-persons cases across Wisconsin that are depicted on playing cards circulated throughout jails and prisons.

The goal: Spark leads from inmates that could help police solve the crimes.

So far, though, two years after the cards were distributed, not a single arrest has resulted.

Jean Zimmermann expected more by now. She had high hopes the cards would lead police to the person who broke into her 21-year-old daughter’s Madison apartment in 2008 and beat and stabbed the college student from Marshfield to death.

“Any chance of someone seeing that (and) speaking up, finally, is fantastic,” Zimmermann said. “We thought it was a great idea for all the cold cases, not just for Brittany but for everybody who is in our position.”

Two versions of the decks were made, each detailing 52 cases. Then, one thousand of each set were handed out at county jails and state prisons, where inmates use them to pass time. The program was paid for with $10,500 in private donations and public money.

The Wisconsin Association of Homicide Investigators made the cards with the backing of the state Department of Justice, Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Badger State Sheriffs Association, Wisconsin Sheriffs and Deputy Sheriffs Association and the Wisconsin Chiefs of Police Association.

Officials acknowledge they could have gone further.

“I’m still trying to figure out ideas ... how we can produce more,” said Jim Holmes, a special investigator with the state Department of Justice.

Florida, where the idea originated, has solved three homicides using its version of cold-case cards. That state has printed more than 300,000 decks, according to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

In South Carolina, the cards have brought arrests or convictions in eight homicides. That state is on its fifth deck and prints about 20,000 new cards every year, said Tom Lucas, a volunteer who helped spearhead the effort.

In all, at least 10 states have such cards.

In Connecticut, the cold-case decks are the only ones made available to inmates, said Andrius Banevicius, a spokesman for that state’s Department of Corrections. The cards have helped generate more than 200 tips and led to an arrest in a 2006 murder.

Missouri, like Wisconsin, has had less success. Missouri police released about 5,000 decks seven years ago, with still nothing to show for it, said Sgt. Erik Eidson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol.

“It got (the subject) out into the public, but we did not make any positive identifications based on the cards.”

More cards on the way?

Back in Wisconsin, the cold-case cards feature people from all over the state.

Ware was last seen in Green Bay in 2004. Southworth was shot multiple times southwest of Marshfield in 2001.

Dawn Mohn’s photo and case details are on the king of hearts. She was 41 when last seen at 2 a.m. Aug. 21, 2000, leaving a Green Bay tavern. Her empty wallet was found close by.

Mohn’s sister, Colleen Deveaux, wants the state to ramp up its efforts.

“I say do more cards,” Deveaux said. “When you have a missing family member, you life isn’t complete until you at least get some news.”

Holmes, the justice department investigator, is hopeful another deck, featuring additional stalled cases, can be produced.

“It comes down to funding,” he said. “Am I hopeful? Yes. What’s the likelihood? I don’t know.”

Dave Robinson of Manitowoc, the brother of Terence Robinson, who was killed in 1998 in Milwaukee, said perhaps the state should distribute the cards in high-crime areas. Terence Robinson is featured on the cards.

“Handing them out in the tougher neighborhoods could be another strategy,” Robinson said. “They probably wouldn’t be used sitting around the family table playing Pinochle with the aunt and uncle. But they might end up in less than honorable hands, for sure.”

Jean Zimmermann said she hopes someone comes forward in her daughter’s case and thinks the cards ultimately will be successful.

“They wouldn’t have spent the money if they didn’t think it would have solved at least one cold case.”